Handles for microsurgical instruments

ABSTRACT

The present invention is improved handles incorporated with a microsurgical instrument. The microsurgical instrument has a pair of crisscrossed members each having a forward functional portion and a rearward portion. Each of the rearward portions of the pair of crisscrossed members is substantially widened for accommodating the fingers of a surgeon&#39;s hand, such that the fingers are positioned parallel to the general longitudinal profile of the microsurgical instrument. The forward functional portions may be microsurgical scissors, microsurgical needle holders, microsurgical Aneurysmen clips, and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to the field of microsurgicalinstruments. More particularly the present invention relates to thefield of improved handles for microsurgical instruments.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The following prior art patents generally relate to the field ofmicrosurgical and other clipping devices.

1. U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,554 issued to Korber on Mar. 26, 1991 for"Microscissors Device And Anastomotic Repair Technique" (hereafter the"Korber Patent").

2. U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,501 issued to Greenberg on Jun. 23, 1987 for"Surgical Instrument" (hereafter the "Greenberg Patent").

3. U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,651 issued to Jacobsen on Feb. 24, 1987 for"Instrument For Gripping Or Cutting" (hereafter the "Jacobsen Patent").

4. U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,687 issued to Burke et al. on Feb. 28, 1984 for"Microsurgical Scissors" (hereafter the "Burke Patent").

5. U.S. Pat. No. 4,165,745 issued to Heifetz on Aug. 28, 1979 for"Surgical Manipulator" (hereafter the "Heifetz Patent").

6. U.S. Pat. No. 3,407,816 issued to Curutchet on Oct. 26, 1968 for"Surgical Instrument Handle" (hereafter the "Curutchet Patent").

7. U.S. Pat. No. 2,540,255 issued to Graves on Feb. 5, 1951 for "FruitClipper" (hereafter the "Graves Patent").

8. U.S. Pat. No. 987,095 issued to Bonta on Mar. 14, 1911 for "FruitClipper" (hereafter the "Bonta Patent").

9. U.S. Pat. No. 288,096 issued to Morgan on Nov. 6, 1883 for "FruitPicker" (hereafter the "Morgan Patent").

10. German Patent No. 291,238 issued on Apr. 7, 1916 (hereafter the"German Patent").

The Heifetz Patent discloses a surgical manipulator having a pair ofelongated prongs 32 and 33, each having a first end and a second end.The two elongated prongs 32 and 33 are resiliently biased away from eachother by a biasing means 45 which "may be separate from or integral withthe device" (Column 3, Lines 38 and 39). One particular feature of theHeifetz Patent is that the first ends of the two elongated prongs 32 and33 are joined together to form a spindle 60. Therefore the HeifetzPatent is generally a pair of tweezers, although in one embodiment thesecond ends of the two elongated prongs 32 and 33 can hingeably supporta pair of scissors 80 (FIG. 6).

The Burke Patent discloses a microsurgical scissors specially designedfor arthroscopic knee surgery. The first cutting blade, shaft blade 13,is disposed at the forward end of an elongated hollow shaft 11. Thesecond cutting blade, the rod cutting blade 14, is disposed at theforward end of a rod 12 which in turn is disposed within the hollowshaft 11. By pressing a sleeve 10B, the surgeon can rotate the rod 12through the gear engagement, which in turn actuates the rod blade 14 tomove in an arcuate path past the shaft blade 13 for providing a shearingaction of the scissors. The Burke Patent performs the cutting in arotary cutting action.

The Jacobsen Patent discloses a surgical instrument having a fixed jaw12 integrally formed at one end of an elongated base 11 and a movablejaw 13 pivoted on the elongated base 11 adjacent to the fixed jaw 12.The movable jaw 13 is controlled by a handle 28, which is pivoted on theopposite end of the elongated base 11, through an elongated actuatingshank 22. The Jacobsen Patent utilizes three separate elongated members:the base 11, the handle 28 and the actuate shank 22.

The Greenberg Patent discloses a surgical instrument having a pair ofscissors 72 and 76 respectively provided on the ends of two axiallymating and relatively slidable elongated shafts 54 and 56, which are inturn activated by a pair of handles 12 and 16. The fixed shaft 54 andthe movable shaft 56 "are conjointly rotatable about their commoncentral axis" by rotating an indexing wheel 38, such that the cuttingplane of the pair of scissors 72 and 76 can be rotatively changed.

The Korber Patent discloses a microsurgical scissors having twoelongated arms 3 and 5 pivoted at a joint 7. Two cutting edges areprovided respectively on the two elongated arms 3 and 5, between theirfirst ends and the joint 7. At the second ends of the two elongated arms3 and 5 there are two spring arms 3A and 5A provided for biasing thesecond ends of the two elongated arms 3 and 5 away from each other. Thetwo spring arms 3A and 5A are hingeably attached to each other at joint9. Furthermore, knurled surfaces 11 and 13 are provided on the twoelongated arms 3 and 5 adjacent to their second ends for easy grippingof the device.

The Morgan Patent discloses a fruit picker having outwardly disposedgrooves provided on its handles for adapting the user's fingers.

The Bonta Patent discloses a fruit clipper having finger loops 4provided on its handles for adapting the user's fingers.

The Graves Patent discloses a fruit clipper also having finger loops 16provided on its handles for adapting the user's fingers.

The Curutchet Patent discloses an early surgical instrument handlehaving extra members 13 and 14 with grooves for adapting the surgeon'sfingers.

The German Patent discloses a scissor-type apparatus apparently havingbiasing springs e and f attached to the two handles and hinged to eachother.

Many of the above-reference prior art patents, including the CurutchetPatent, the Greenberg Patent, the Burke Patent and the Jacobsen Patent,have complicated structures and numerous components. Others, includingthe Morgan Patent, the Bonta Patent and the Graves Patent, are notdesigned and constructed for microsurgical purposes, but rather forfruit clipping.

The Korber Patent is a microsurgical scissors device. It has twoelongated arms 3 and 5 pivoted at a joint 7. Adjacent the first ends ofthe two elongated arms 3 and 5 there are two cutting edges provided forfunctioning as scissors. At the second ends of the two elongated arms 3and 5 there are two spring arms 3A and 5A provided for biasing the twoelongated arms 3 and 5. The problem with the Korber Patent microsurgicalscissors is that when a surgeon holds the handle portions of the twoelongated arms 3 and 5, his fingers are generally perpendicular to thetwo elongated arms 3 and 5. In other words, when handling themicrosurgical scissors device in this fashion, the elongated arms of themicrosurgical scissors device is generally not aligned with the generallengthwise direction of the surgeon's fingers. handling themicrosurgical scissors device in this fashion sometimes limits theflexibility and sensitivity that the surgeon has for controlling thecutting orientation and strength because of the natural bone structureand movement of a human hand. In addition, the elongated biasing springs3A and 5A, which extend from the rear ends of the two elongated arms 3and 5 respectively, sometimes interfere with the surgeon's palm or wristas he tries to orient the instrument in certain positions duringmicrosurgical operations.

The Jacobsen Patent provides a surgical gripping or cutting instrument,wherein when held by a surgeon, the elongated arms of the gripping orcutting instrument are generally aligned with the lengthwise directionof the surgeon's thumb and index finger. This arrangement gives thesurgeon more precise control over the instrument, because it morereadily adapts to the natural bone structure and movement of a humanhand. However, the Jacobsen Patent instrument is relatively complicatedand heavy because it has extra bar members. In addition, the tinybiasing coil springs, such as coil springs 38 and 48, and the tinyapertures holding the coil springs, sometimes make it difficult to cleanthe instrument thoroughly.

Therefore, although various types of microsurgical devices have beendisclosed in the prior art, it is still desirable to have improvedsimple structure handles for microsurgical instruments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is improved handles for microsurgical instruments.

The functional portion of many microsurgical instruments has two hingedmembers. For example, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 respectively, thefunction portion 210 of a microsurgical scissors instrument has twocutting members 212 and 214, the function portion 220 of a microsurgicalholders instrument has two forceps members 222 and 224, and the functionportion 230 of a microsurgical clip instrument has two clamping members232 and 234.

When these paired members are closed, they coincide with the respectivelongitudinal axis of the microsurgical device. For example, when the twocutting members 212 and 214 are closed, they coincide with thelongitudinal axis 216 of the microsurgical scissors device; when the twoforceps members 222 and 224 are closed, they coincide with thelongitudinal axis 226 of the microsurgical holder device, and when thetwo clamping members 232 and 234 are closed, they coincide with thelongitudinal axis 236 of the microsurgical clip device. However, whenthese paired members are opened, each pair defines a respective plane.For example, when the two cutting members 212 and 214 are opened, theydefine a plane 218; when the two forceps members 222 and 224 are opened,they define a plane 228, and when the two clamping members 232 and 234are opened, they define a plane 238.

The above-described planes illustrate the orientation of themicrosurgical instruments. In many situations, a surgeon needs to orientthe microsurgical instrument in a certain way by rotating the planeabout the longitudinal axis. For example, in order to cut a thread whichhappens to be parallel to plane 218, a surgeon has to rotate themicrosurgical scissors device about its longitudinal angle 216, suchthat the plane 218 defined by the two cutting members 212 and 214 isrotating about the longitudinal angle 216 for about 90 degrees so it isperpendicular to the thread.

It has been discovered, according to the present invention, that if asurgeon holds the traditional handles of a microsurgical instrument inhis hand, then the surgeon's fingers are generally perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the microsurgical device, which makes it very hardfor the surgeon to rotate the two open members of the microsurgicaldevice about the longitudinal axis without departing from its originaldirection.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improvedhandles for various microsurgical instruments, which improved handlesare constructed in a unique way, such that when a surgeon holds theimproved handles of a microsurgical instrument in the surgeon's hand,the surgeon's fingers are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis ofthe microsurgical instrument, which makes it very easy for the surgeonto rotate the two open members of the microsurgical instrument about thelongitudinal axis without departing from its original direction.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide improvedhandles for various microsurgical instruments, which improved handlesare constructed as simple and light as possible, to enable a surgeon tocontrol the microsurgical instrument more easily in very delicate orprecise surgical operations. It is desirable to retain the basicstructure of a hinged design, wherein two elongated members arehingeably attached in a crisscross manner, since such a simple structuredoes not require many complicated and heavy components.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide improvedhandles for various microsurgical instruments which improved handlesenable a surgeon to control the microsurgical scissors instrument moreprecisely in very delicate or precise surgical operations. Each improvedhandle of the microsurgical scissors instrument will have asubstantially widened outer surface. A longitudinal groove may beprovided on the substantially widened outer surface of one handle foraccommodating the thumb of a surgeon's one hand, and two longitudinalgrooves may be provided on the substantially widened outer surface ofthe other handle for accommodating the index and middle fingers of thesurgeon's same hand. As the surgeon holds the improved handles, onehandle is engaged with and positioned parallel to the thumb of thesurgeon's one hand, and the other handle is engaged with and positionedparallel to the index and middle fingers of the surgeon's same hand.Holding the microsurgical instrument in this manner provides the surgeonmuch more precise and sensitive control over the movement andorientation of the scissors instrument in very delicate or precisemicrosurgical operations.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide animproved handle with an improved biasing mechanism. The function of thebiasing mechanism is to keep the two improved handles of a microsurgicalinstrument in a balanced position, wherein the two functional members ofthe microsurgical instrument are spaced apart when the improved handlesare not compressed.

Since the improved handles of the microsurgical instrument are disposedbetween the thumb and the index and middle fingers and engagedlongitudinally thereon, the rear ends of the two improved handles of themicrosurgical instrument are disposed in proximity to the palm of thesurgeon's hand. To prevent any interference between the parts of themicrosurgical instrument and the surgeon's palm or wrist, the improvedbiasing mechanism of the present invention microsurgical instrument isdisposed between the two improved handles, without extending beyond therear ends of the two improved handles. Therefore, the surgeon has muchgreater flexibility in oriently the present invention microsurgicalscissors instrument.

It is a further object of the present inventoin to incorporate theimproved handles with an improved biasing mechanism into as manymicrosurgical instruments as possible, including microsurgical scissors,microsurgical holders, microsurgical forceps, microsurgical clippinginstruments and microsurgical gripping instruments, and other likemicrosurgical instruments.

It is another object of the present invention to incorporate theimproved handles with improved biasing mechanism into other similarcrisscross devices, such as scissors, forceps, clippers, etc.

Further novel features and other objects of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description, discussion andthe appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustratingonly and not limitation, there is illustrated:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a microsurgical scissors instrumentwhich incorporates one of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention improved handles with an improved biasing spring.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the microsurgical scissors instrument whichincorporates one of the preferred embodiments of the present inventionimproved handles with an improved biasing spring.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing that one of the preferredembodiments of the present invention improved handles of themicrosurgical scissors instrument are held by a surgeon's hand.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a microsurgical holders instrument whichincorporates an alternative embodiment of the present invention improvedhandles.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a microsurgical clippers instrumentwhich incorporates another alternative embodiment of the presentinvention improved handles.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view showing how the other alternativeembodiment of the present invention improved handles of themicrosurgical scissors instrument is held by a surgeon's hand.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial view of the forward function portion ofthe microsurgical scissors instrument shown in FIGS. 1 through 3.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial view of the forward function portion ofthe microsurgical holders instrument shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial view of the forward function portion ofthe microsurgical clippers instrument shown in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to the drawings, it should be understood thatsuch embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative ofbut a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which canrepresent applications of the principles of the present invention.Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art towhich the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit,scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined inthe appended claims.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown at 10 a microsurgicalscissors instrument which incorporates the present invention improvedhandles. The microsurgical scissors instrument 10 has two elongatedmembers 12 and 14. The first elongated member 12 has a front end 16 anda rear end 18. Between its front end 16 and rear end 18, the firstelongated member 12 may be divided into three portions: a cuttingportion 20 adjacent to the front end 16, a handle portion 22 adjacent tothe rear end 18, and an arm portion 24 interconnecting the cuttingportion 20 and the handle portion 22. Similarly, the second elongatedmember 14 also has a front end 26 and a rear end 28. Between its frontend 26 and rear end 28, the second elongated member 14 may also bedivided into three portions: a cutting portion 30 adjacent to the frontend 26, a handle portion 32 adjacent to the rear end 28, and an armportion 34 interconnecting the cutting portion 30 and the handle portion32. The arm portions 24 and 34 of the two elongated members aresubstantially longer than the cutting portions 20 and 30 and the handleportions 22 and 32 of the two elongated members. The arm portions 24 and34 of the two elongated members may have any suitable configuration.Preferably, they are bent and have a generally L-shaped configuration.The two elongated members 12 and 14 may be made of any suitable materialsuch as stainless steel.

The two elongated members 12 and 14 are hingeably attached together in acrisscross manner at a joint 36 between their respective cuttingportions 20 and 30 and their arm portions 24 and 34. The hingeableattachment may be made by any suitable means. In a simple form, the twoelongated members 12 and 14 are hinged together by a small mounting pin38. The small mounting pin 38 may be a separate pin, or integrallyformed with either the first elongated member 12 or the second elongatedmember 14. When the two elongated members 12 and 14 are hingeablyattached in this manner, the opening and closing of the two cuttingportions 20 and 30 of the two elongated members 12 and 14 can becontrolled by operating the two handle portions 22 and 32 of the twoelongated members 12 and 14, i.e., separating or compressing the twohandle portions 22 and 32 of the two elongated members 12 and 14,respectively.

The respective lengths and shapes of the cutting portions 20 and 30 ofthe two elongated members 12 and 14 are substantially similar and bothare very thin and narrow, as required for microsurgical operations. Inone of the preferred embodiments, the tapered tips of the cuttingportions 20 and 30 are slightly bent up for more precise operation. Thecutting portion 20 of the first elongated member 12 has a sharp inneredge 42, and the cutting portion 30 of the second elongated member 14also has a sharp inner edge 40. When the two handle portions 22 and 32of the two elongated members 12 and 14 are compressed toward each other,the cutting portions 20 and 30 of the two elongated members 12 and 14will close toward each other, and consequently their sharp inner edges42 and 40 will cross each other to perform a scissors action.

The novel feature of the present invention is that the handle portions22 and 32 of the two elongated members 12 and 14, respectively, eachhave a substantially widened outer surface, denoted as 44 and 46respectively, for accommodating the fingers of a surgeon's hand 48. Asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the thumb 50 of the surgeon's one hand 48 isengaged onto the widened outer surface 44 of the handle portion 22 ofthe first elongated member 12, and the index and middle fingers 52 and54 of the surgeon's same hand 48 are engaged onto the widened outersurface 46 of the handle portion 32 of the second elongated member 14.Moreover, there is a longitudinal groove 56 provided on the widenedouter surface 44 of the handle portion 22 of the first elongated member12 for better adapting the thumb 50 of the surgeon's hand 48, and thereare two longitudinal grooves 58 and 60 provided on the widened outersurface 46 of the handle portion 32 of the second elongated member 14for better adapting the index and middle fingers 52 and 54 of thesurgeon's hand 48. The thumb groove 56 extends longitudinally along theentire length or almost the entire length of the handle portion 22 ofthe first elongated member 12, and the index finger and middle fingergrooves 58 and 60 extend longitudinally along the entire length oralmost the entire length of the handle portion 32 of the secondelongated member 14. Therefore, when the surgeon's fingers 50, 52 and 54are engaged with the finger grooves 56, 58 and 60 respectively, thehandle portions 22 and 32 of the two elongated members 12 and 14 aregenerally parallel with the surgeon's fingers 50, 52 and 54, especiallyparallel with the surgeon's thumb 50 and index finger 52. Consequentlythe two elongated members 12 and 14 are generally aligned with thelongitudinal direction of the surgeon's thumb 50 and index finger 52.This arrangement enables the surgeon's hand 48 to orient and operate themicrosurgical scissors instrument 10 in a much more suitable manner,which is more fitting with the natural bone structure and movement ofthe human hand. In addition, the finger grooves 56, 58 and 60 act toprevent the slipping between the surgeon's fingers 50, 52 and 54 and thewidened outer surfaces 44 and 46 of the handle portions 22 and 32 of thetwo elongated member 12 and 14, and to provide the required sensitivefeel and precise control over the microsurgical scissors instrument 10.

The exact configurations of the substantially widened outer surface 44and 46 of the handle portions 22 and 32 of the two elongated members 12and 14 may vary. In one of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, the widths of the handle portions 22 and 32 are graduallyincreased, being widest at the rear ends 18 and 28. Since the handleportion 22 of the first elongated member 12 is engaged with only thethumb 50 of the surgeon's hand, and the handle portion 32 of the secondelongated member 14 is engaged with both the index finger 52 and themiddle finger 54, the overall width of the handle portion 32 of thesecond elongated member 14 is greater than the overall width of thehandle portion 22 of the first elongated member 12. It is understoodthat the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is designed for a right-handedsurgeon. For a left-handed surgeon, the configurations of the handleportions 22 and 32 are simply reversed.

A biasing mechanism is provided for the present invention improvedhandles incorporated with the microscissors instrument 10 to keep thetwo elongated members 12 and 14 in a balanced position as they arehingeably attached. In a preferred balanced position, the handleportions 22 and 32 of the two elongated members 12 and 14 are spacedapart, so that the sharp inner edges 42 and 40 of the cutting portions20 and 30 of the two elongated members 12 and 14 are open and ready forcutting. When the sugeon's fingers apply forces onto the outer surfaces44 and 46 of the handle portions 22 and 32 of the two elongated members12 and 14 to compress them toward each other against the force of thebiasing mechanism, the cutting portions 20 and 30 of the two elongatedmembers 12 and 14 will move close to each other, and their sharp inneredges 42 and 40 will preform a scissors action. When the surgeon'sfingers are relaxed, the force of the biasing mechanism will separatethe handle portions 22 and 32 of the two elongated member 12 and 14, andthe sharp inner edges 42 and 40 of the cutting portions 20 and 30 of thetwo elongated members 12 and 14 will be open again and ready for thenext cutting.

In the preferred embodiment of the improved handles of the presentinvention incorporated with the microscissors instrument 10, the biasingmechanism includes two thin and narrow spring plates 62 and 64. The twothin and narrow spring plates 62 and 64 are respectively attached to thehandle portions 22 and 32 of the two elongated members 12 and 14 at arespective one of their ends and hingeably attached at a joint 66 attheir other ends, as shown in the figures. The two thin and narrowspring plates 62 and 64 may by removably or permanently attached to thetwo elongated members 12 and 14. The exact location of attachment mayvary. The biasing mechanism may be of other forms, such as a coilspring.

Using two hinged spring plates is conventional in the art, particularlyin microsurgical instruments, since they are simple, light and easy toclean. A typical prior art arrangement of the biasing spring plates isdisclosed in the Kober Patent, where the two thin spring plates 3A and5A extend from the rear ends of the two elongated members 11 and 13, andare hingeably attached at a joint 9. However, this arrangement is notsuitable for the microscissors instrument 10, because the latter is heldin a completely different manner. When the microscissors instrument 10is held in the manner shown in FIG. 3, anything beyond the rear ends 18and 28 of the two elongated members 12 and 14 will interfere with thepalm of the surgeon's hand 48. Therefore an important feature of thebiasing mechanism of the microsurgical scissors instrument 10 is thatthe biasing mechanism is disposed between the handle portions 22 and 32without extending beyond the rear ends 18 and 28 of the two elongatedmembers 12 and 14. In the preferred embodiment of the microsurgicalscissors instrument 10, one end of the first spring plate 62 is attachedto the first elongated member 12 at a location between the handleportion 22 and the arm portion 24, and one end of the second springplate 64 is attached to the second elongated member 14 at a locationbetween the handle portion 32 and the arm portion 34. It is furtherprovided that the length of each spring plate is shorter than theoverall length of each handle portion of the two elongated members 12and 14. Therefore, even when the handle portions 22 and 32 are fullycompressed, the hinged joint 66 of the two spring plates 62 and 64 willstill not extend beyond the rear ends 18 and 28 of the two elongatedmembers 12 and 14.

An enlarged partial view of the forward function portion of amicrosurgical scissors instrument is shown in FIG. 8 at 210, which hastwo cutting members 212 and 214. However, it will be appreciated that toincorporate the improved handles of the present invention into amicrosurgical scissors instrument is only one of many possible uses ofthe improved handles. Another two commonly used microsurgicalinstruments are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 as examples of the wideapplication of the present invention improved handles.

Shown in FIG. 5 at 70, an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention improved handles is incorporated with a microsurgical holdersinstrument. The forward functional portion 72 of the microsurgicalholders instrument comprises two curved holding members. The two widenedhandle portions 74 and 76 are similar to the ones for the microsurgicalscissors instrument 10 shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, but without theoptional longitudinal grooves. The handle portions are curved in aconcave shape and are curved toward each other. Shown in FIG. 6 at 80,there is another alternative embodiment of the present inventionimproved handles, which is incorporated with a microsurgical clippersinstrument. The forward functional portion 82 of the microsurgicalholders instrument comprises two curved holding members. The two handleportions 84 and 86 are again widened. However, as shown in FIG. 7, whileone of the two handle portions, handle portion 86, is adapted toaccommodate the thumb 50 of a surgeon's one hand, the other one of thetwo handle portions, handle portion 86, is dramatically widened toaccommodate all four other fingers of the surgeon's hand. The width andshape of the handle portion 86 is constructed to be comfortably engagedby the surgeon's index finger 52, middle finger 54, ring finger 55 andlittle finger 57, as these four fingers are naturally positioned. Thehandle portions are curved in a convex shape and are curved away fromeach other.

The essential feature of these embodiments of the present inventionimproved handles shown in FIGS. 5 through 7 is the same as the one shownin FIGS. 1 through 4, that is, to allow the surgeon's fingers to liegenerally longitudinally along the same general longitudinal axis of thebody of the microsurgical instrument held by the fingers. When one'sfingers are so oriented, it is very easy to rotate the microsurgicalinstrument as held by the surgeon's fingers about the longitudinal axisof the microsurgical instrument. This essential feature enables thesurgeon to gain precise control over the orientation of the forwardfunctional portion of the microsurgical instruments.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are enlarged partial views of the foward functionportions of the microsurgical instruments shown in FIGS. 5 and 6,respectively. The forward functional portion 220 of the microsurgicalneedle holders instrument is shown in FIG. 9, and the forward functionalportion 230 of the microsurgical Aneurysmen clips instrument is shown inFIG. 10. Of course these are only examples of the various microsurgicalinstruments and other suitable instruments that can be incorporated withthe present invention improved handles.

The present invention has many advantageous features including: (a) ithas a simple construction without many complex components; (b) it iseasy to cleaned and maintain; (c) it enables the surgeon to controloperations more precisely; and (d) it will not interfere with otherparts of the surgeon's hand.

Defined in detail, the present invention is a microsurgical instrument,comprising: (a) a first elongated member having a front end, a rear end,a functioning portion adjacent to its front end, a handle portionadjacent to its rear end, and an arm portion interconnecting itsfunctioning portion and its handle portion; (b) a second elongatedmember having a front end, a rear end, a functioning portion adjacent toits front end, a handle portion adjacent to its rear end, and an armportion interconnecting its functioning portion and its handle portion;(c) connecting means for hingeably attaching said first and secondelongated members in a crisscross manner at a joint between their saidfunctioning portions and said arm portions; (d) said handle portions ofsaid first and second elongated members each having a substantiallywidened outer surface; (e) said substantially widened outer surface ofsaid handle portion of said first elongated member having a longitudinalgroove for accommodating the thumb of a surgeon's one hand, and saidsubstantially widened outer surface of said handle portion of saidsecond elongated member having two longitudinal grooves foraccommodating the index and middle fingers of the surgeon's same hand;and (f) biasing means attached and disposed between said handle portionsof said first and second elongated members without extending beyond saidrear ends of said first and second elongated members for keeping saidfirst and second elongated members in a balanced position.

In one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention: (a) saidarm portions of said first and second elongated members are bent andhave a generally L-shaped configuration; (b) said connecting meansinclude a small mounting pin; (c) said small mounting pin is integrallyformed with one of said first and said second elongated members; (d)said longitudinal groove on said substantially widened outer surface ofsaid handle portion of said first elongated member for accommodating thethumb of a surgeon's one hand extends the entire length of said handleportion of said first elongated member; (e) said longitudinal groove onsaid substantially widened outer surface of said handle portion of saidfirst elongated member for accommodating the thumb of a surgeon's onehand extends a substantial length of said handle portion of said firstelongated member; (f) said two longitudinal grooves on saidsubstantially widened outer surface of said handle portion of saidsecond elongated member for accommodating the index and middle fingersof the surgeon's same hand extend the entire length of said handleportion of said second elongated member; (g) said two longitudinalgrooves on said substantially widened outer surface of said handleportion of said second elongated member for accommodating the index andmiddle fingers of the surgeon's same hand extend a substantial length ofsaid handle portion of said second elongated member; (h) said biasingmeans include two thin and narrow spring plates each having a first endand a second end, where the first ends of the first and second thin andnarrow spring plates are respectively attached to said two elongatedmembers at respective locations between their said handle portions andsaid arm portions, and the second ends of the two thin and narrow springplates are hingeably attached to each other at a location not beyondsaid rear ends of said first and second elongated members; (i) saidfirst ends of said two thin and narrow spring plates are permanentlyattached to said first and second elongated members at respectivelocations between their said handle portions and said arm portions; and(j) the respective length of said two thin and narrow spring plates areshorter than the respective length of said handle portions of said firstand second elongated members.

The forward portion of the present invention device is the functionalportion of the instrument. In one of the preferred embodiments, thefunctional portion is a microscissors instrument. It will be appreciatedthat the functional portion of the present invention may be other typesof devices such as a microsurgical needle holder instrument or amicrosurgical Aneurysmen clips instrument, where the inner edges of theforward portions of the two elongated members are not sharp but haveother suitable configurations as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, respectively.

Defined broadly, the present invention is a microsurgical instrument,comprising: (a) a pair of crisscrossed members each having a forwardportion and a rearward portion; (b) said forward portions beingfunctional portions of said microsurgical instrument; (c) one of saidrearward portions of said pair of crisscrossed members being widened foraccommodating the thumb of a surgeon's one hand such that the thumb ispositioned generally parallel with a generally longitudinal axis of saidmicrosurgical instrument, and the other one of said rearward portions ofsaid pair of crisscrossed members being substantially widened toaccommodate other fingers of the surgeon's same hand, such that thesefingers are also positioned generally parallel with the generallylongitudinal axis of said microsurgical instrument; and (d) biasingmeans attached to said pair of crisscrossed members and disposed betweensaid rearward portions of said pair of crisscrossed members for keepingsaid pair of crisscrossed members in a balanced position.

Defined even more broadly, the present invention is a microsurgicalinstrument, comprising: (a) a pair of hingeably attached members eachhaving a forward portion and rearward portion; (b) said forward portionsof said pair of hingeably attached members having means for performingat least one microsurgical function; and (c) said rearward portions ofsaid pair of hingeably attached members each being substantially widenedfor engaging with at least one of the five fingers of a surgeon's onehand, such that the at least one finger being engaged is positionedgenerally parallel to a generally longitudinal profile of saidmicrosurgical instruments.

Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to anyparicular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment disclosedherein, or any specific use, since the same may be modified in variousparticulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which theapparatus shown is intended only for illustration and for disclosure ofan operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms ormodifications in which the present invention might be embodied oroperated.

The present invention has been described in considerable detail in orderto comply with the patent laws by providing full public disclosure of atleast one of its forms. However, such detailed description is notintended in any way to limit the broad features or principles of thepresent invention, or the scope of patent monopoly to be granted.

What is claimed is :
 1. A microsurgical instrument, comprising:a. afirst elongated member having a front end, a rear end, a functioningportion adjacent to its front end, a handle portion adjacent to its rearend, and an arm portion interconnecting its functioning portion and itshandle portion; b. a second elongated member having a front end, a rearend, a functioning portion adjacent to its front end, a handle portionadjacent to its rear end, and an arm portion interconnecting itsfunctioning portion and its handle portion; c. connecting means forhingeably attaching said first and second elongated members in acrisscross manner at a joint between their said functioning portions andsaid arm portions; d. said handle portions of said first and secondelongated members each having a substantially widened outer surface; e.said substantially widened outer surface of said handle portion of saidfirst elongated member having a longitudinal groove for accommodatingthe thumb of a surgeon's one hand, and said substantially widened outersurface of said handle portion of said second elongated member havingtwo longitudinal grooves for accommodating the index and middle fingersof the surgeon's same hand; f. said longitudinal groove on saidsubstantially widened outer surface of said handle portion of said firstelongated member for accommodating the thumb of a surgeon's one handextends the entire length of said handle portion of said first elongatedmember; and g. biasing means attached and disposed between said handleportions of said first and second elongated members without extendingbeyond said rear ends of said first and second elongated members forkeeping said first and second elongated members in a balanced position.2. The microsurgical instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein said armportions of said first and second elongated members are bent and have agenerally L-shaped configuration.
 3. The microsurgical instrument asdefined in claim 1, wherein said connecting means includes a smallmounting pin.
 4. The microsurgical instrument as defined in claim 3,wherein said small mounting pin is integrally formed with one of saidfirst and said second elongated members.
 5. The microsurgical instrumentas defined in claim 1, wherein said two longitudinal grooves on saidsubstantially widened outer surface of said handle portion of saidsecond elongated member for accommodating the index and middle fingersof the surgeon's same hand extend the entire length of said handleportion of said second elongated member.
 6. The microsurgical instrumentas defined in claim 1, wherein said biasing means includes two thin andnarrow spring plates each having a first end and a second end, where thefirst ends of the first and second thin and narrow spring plates arerespectively attached to said two elongated members at respectivelocations between their said handle portions and said arm portions, andthe second ends of the two thin and narrow spring plates are hingeablyattached to each other at a location not beyond said rear ends of saidfirst and second elongated members.
 7. The microsurgical instrument asdefined in claim 6 wherein said first ends of said two thin and narrowspring plates are permanently attached to said first and secondelongated members at respective locations between their said handleportions and said arm portions.
 8. The microsurgical instrument asdefined in claim 6 wherein the respective length of said two thin andnarrow spring plates are shorter than the respective length of saidhandle portions of said first and second elongated members.
 9. Themicrosurgical instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said functionalportions of said first and second elongated members are microsurgicalscissors.
 10. The microsurgical instrument as defined in claim 6 whereinsaid functional portions of said first and second elongated members aremicrosurgical needle holders.
 11. The microsurgical instrument asdefined in claim 1 wherein said functional portions of said first andsecond elongated members are microsurgical Aneurysmen clips.
 12. Amicrosurgical instrument, comprising:a. a pair of crisscrossed memberseach having a forward portion and a rearward portion; b. said forwardportions being functional portions of said microsurgical instrument; c.said rearward portions of said pair of crisscrossed members beingsubstantially widened and having two-dimensional curvature foraccommodating a surgeon's one hand; and d. biasing means attached tosaid pair of crisscrossed members and disposed between said rearwardportions of said pair of crisscrossed members for keeping said pair ofcrisscrossed members in a balanced position.
 13. The microsurgicalinstrument as defined in claim 12 wherein said two-dimensionalcurvatures of said substantially widened rearward portions of said pairof crisscrossed members are concave curvatures, such that said rearwardportions are curved toward each other.
 14. The microsurgical instrumentas defined in claim 12 wherein said two-dimensional curvatures of saidsubstantially widened rearward portions of said pair of crisscrossedmembers are convex curvatures, such that said rearward portions arecurved away from each other.
 15. The microsurgical instrument as definedin claim 12 wherein said biasing means includes a pair of thin andnarrow spring plates respectively attached to said pair of crisscrossedmembers and hingeably attached to each other.
 16. The microsurgicalinstrument as defined in claim 15 wherein the respective length of saidpair of thin and narrow spring plates are shorter than the respectivelength of said rearward portions of said pair of crisscrossed members.17. The microsurgical instrument as defined in claim 12 wherein saidforward functional portions of said pair of crisscrossed members aremicrosurgical scissors.
 18. The microsurgical instrument as defined inclaim 12 wherein said forward functional portions of said pair ofcrisscrossed members are microsurgical needle holders.
 19. Themicrosurgical instrument as defined in claim 12 wherein said forwardfunctional portions of said pair of crisscrossed members aremicrosurgical Aneurysmen clips.
 20. The microsurgical instrument asdefined in claim 12 wherein said rearward portions of said crisscrossedmembers are each generally curved in a convex shape and are curved awayfrom each other.
 21. The microsurgical instrument as defined in claim 12wherein said rearward portions of said crisscrossed members are eachgenerally curved in a concave shape and are curved toward each other.22. A microsurgical instrument, comprising:a. a first elongated memberhaving a front end, a rear end, a functioning portion adjacent to itsfront end, a handle portion adjacent to its rear end, and an arm portioninterconnecting its functioning portion and its handle portion; b. asecond elongated member having a front end, a rear end, a functioningportion adjacent to its front end, a handle portion adjacent to its rearend, and an arm portion interconnecting its functioning portion and itshandle portion; c. connecting means for hingeably attaching said firstand second elongated members in a crisscross manner at a joint betweentheir said functioning portions and said arm portions; d. said handleportions of said first and second elongated members each having asubstantially widened outer surface; e. said substantially widened outersurface of said handle portion of said first elongated member having alongitudinal groove for accommodating the thumb of a surgeon's one hand,and said substantially widened outer surface of said handle portion ofsaid second elongated member having two longitudinal grooves foraccommodating the index and middle fingers of the surgeon's same hand;f. said two longitudinal grooves on said substantially widened outersurface of said handle portion of said second elongated member foraccommodating the index and middle fingers of the surgeon's same handextend the entire length of said handle portion of said second elongatedmember; and g. biasing means attached and disposed between said handleportions of said first and second elongated members without extendingbeyond said rear ends of said first and second elongated members forkeeping said first and second elongated members in a balanced position.23. The microsurgical instrument as defined in claim 22 wherein said armportions of said first and second elongated members are bent and have agenerally L-shaped configuration.
 24. The microsurgical instrument asdefined in claim 22 wherein said connecting means includes a smallmounting pin.
 25. The microsurgical instrument as defined in claim 22wherein said small mounting pin is integrally formed with one of saidfirst and said second elongated members.
 26. The microsurgicalinstrument as defined in claim 22 wherein said longitudinal groove onsaid substantially widened outer surface of said handle portion of saidfirst elongated member for accommodating the thumb of a surgeon's onehand extends the entire length of said handle portion of said firstelongated member.
 27. The microsurgical instrument as defined in claim22 wherein said biasing means includes two thin and narrow spring plateseach having a first end and a second end, where the first ends of thefirst and second thin and narrow spring plates are respectively attachedto said two elongated members at respective locations between their saidhandle portions and said arm portions, and the second ends of the twothin and narrow spring plates are hingeably attached to each other at alocation not beyond said rear ends of said first and second elongatedmembers.
 28. The microsurgical instrument as defined in claim 27 whereinsaid first ends of said two thin and narrow spring plates arepermanently attached to said first and second elongated members atrespective locations between their said handle portions and said armportions.
 29. The microsurgical instrument as defined in claim 27wherein the respective length of said two thin and narrow spring platesare shorter than the respective length of said handle portions of saidfirst and second elongated members.
 30. The microsurgical instrument asdefined in claim 22 wherein said functional portions of said first andsecond elongated members are microsurgical scissors.
 31. Themicrosurgical instrument as defined in claim 22 wherein said functionalportions of said first and second elongated members are microsurgicalneedle holders.
 32. The microsurgical instrument as defined in claim 22wherein said functional portions of said first and second elongatedmembers are microsurgical aneurysm clips.